Apparatus for plastic material manufacture



D. BROWN APPARATUS FOR PLAST@ MATERIAL MANUFAGTURE Jan. s, 1935.

6 Sheets-Sheet 1 `Filecl Dec. 2l, 1952 .9%. NNW

Jan'. 8, 1935. D. BROWN vAPPARATUS FOR PLASITIC MATERIAL MANUFACTURE Filed Dec. 2l, 1932 isheeS-'Sheet 2' Snventor raz//lz al/z's Gttqrnegs Jan. i1?.;1935.

D. BROWN APPARATUS FOR PLASTIC MATERIAL MANUFACTURE Filed Dec. 21, 1932 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 Snnentgt avzlf /az//lz (Ittotnegs MK NN Jan'. 8, 1935.` D. BROWN APPARATUS FOR` PLASTIC MATERIAL MANUFACTURE Filed neo. -21, 1932 6 sheets-sheet 4 Snventor yawls 9mm/z Jan. 8, 1935. D. BROWN 1,987,359

APPARATUS ,FOR PLASTIC MATERIAL MANUFACTURE Filed Deo. 2l, 1932 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 [Vlg 225226 205 246 22g 246 A *W5 nventor l? i Bs l Y Gttovmegs Jan. 8, 1935.

Filed Dec. 2l, 1952 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 2 ik; /i

npentor awls 5ml/212 M ,5 attorney Patented Jan. 8, 19.3.5

UNITED STATES D APPARATUS FOR PLASTIC MATERIAL Davis IlosAngelem 'Galli'. Application December 21, 19:2, Serin No.`-64s,z55 y atmosphere without requiring tiring. i

The present improvements include subject matter set forth in my applications for United States Letters Patent, Serial No. 587,195, entitled Methucts very materially..

rials, such as clays, ing the same, or the airhardening materials, which include some clays,

of the most important causes dimensional and form limita- It has been discovered that the beneficial results of homogenizing plastic material are bestattained the higher the degree of homogenization preferred embodiments ofv which are set forth in Y the following description, and which are particularly and distinctly pointed out and set forth in the appended claims forming part hereof.

The natur" o1' the improved method ofthe 55 t seal forming Fig. 3 is a transverse moving mass into relatively small pieces or shreds, preferably simultaneously subjecting the comminuted pieces or shreds to an atmosphere isolated from the normal atmosphere and having a repressure, preferably a .vacuum of from 21 to 26 inches or higher of mercury, continuously moving or pumping said isolated atmosphere of reduced pressure away from the moving pieces or shreds to the normal atmosphere thereby reduccontent of the ing the pieces or ing a reduced mogenized mass of the plastic material, and then moving the highly homogenized mass of plastic material into the normal atmosphere.

iTheimproved method hereof furthermore includes novel details as are hereinafter more fully set forth. -f

The nature of the improved apparatus of the present invention may be stated in generalterms as including pressure sealed isolating walls forming a succession of communicating chambersan inlet opening forthe first chamber communicating with the normal atmosphere, and an outlet opening for the last chamber communicating with the normal atmosphere, the communicating chambers having operatively mounted therein and/or forming in the order named. a pug mill or feeder unit, a first compression unit preferably an extrusion screw press, a first plug chamber, a vacuum chamber and preferably relatively high Aspeed disintegrating or shredding means independently operative therein, re-compression means'. a second plug seal forming chamber, and said inlet opening communicating with the pug mill or feeder unit, and said outlet opening preferablyk in the form of an lextrusion diey communicating with said second plug seal forming chamber. v

Means are provided, preferably a vacuum pump operatively connected with the vacuum chamber, whereby the isolated atmosphere of the vacuum chamber is maintained at a reduced pressure,

lpreferably a vacuum of from 21 to 26 inches orv higher of mercu said isolated ator pumped awayV and whereby mosphere is continuously moved from the vacuum chamber-into mosphere.

Several preferred embodiments of the improved machine or apparatus, are illustrated in the accompanying drawings forming part hereof, in which Fig. 1 isa verticaltlongitudinal section of.` one embodiment of the improved apparatus taken substantially rron the line 1-1 of Fig. 2 in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 2 is a plantaken, arrow 2 of Fig. 1:

in the direction or the section on'the line 3--3 of Fig. 1 in the directionof` the arrows;

is a transverse section on the line 4-4 ofjFig..1 inthe direction of the arrows;

"Figi '5l/is a transverse section on, the line 5--5 of `llg-jl; the direction of the arrows through l6iisfalorigitudinal section of a second em- '.jbodiment ofthe improved apparatus somiwhat the normal atsimilar to Fig. 1

nd the extrusion Fig. 'l is a transverse section on the line direction of `the arrows, illustrating Fig. 6 in the vthe gear drive;

Fis. Fig. 6

Fig. 9 is a ve third embodiment .showing a connection press;

Fig. 10 of a fourth emb ratus hereof; Fig. 11 is section`,`of a, apparatus of Fig.

Fig. 12 is an end view, embodiment of the apparatus illustrated in Figs.

10 and 11.

Dealing first with the and 2, I employ a character and may rest o n a door or this there is mounted theextrusionpress casing 13 which is Filler blocks major length 17 8 is a transverse in the direction of the but showing the sealing press press or different capacities;

section on the line -8--8 of rtical longitudinal section of a of the improved apparatus to a standard extrusion is a-side elevation, 'partially in section,

odiment of the improved appa' enlargedelevation, partially in portion of the embodiment of the 10; and l partially in section, of the 20 construction of Figs. 1 base 11 which is of a substantial the like. On 12, this preferably cylinthe top.

of the presi an end closure 18 at one end` for the shaft 20. This journal has an air-tight packing 21 of a suitable character. The

press has a closure integral therewith. This forms a seal- 23 formed ing chamber 24. from the sealing are connected outside of The shaft 20 is the gear housing Fitting on top boxlike structu chamber 30. This with the opening 14 of provided with a 4tially the full size of such is mounted a journal box 32 with a extension 33. A

opposite or discharge end of the head 22 with a box structure is a contracted outlet 25 chamber, and extrusion dies 26 this discharge opening. illustrated as a cantilever shaft 19 and also the bearing 27 in designated generally at 28. of the extrusion press there is a re 29 to form the evacuation has an opening connecting the rextrusion press. It is demountable end 3l of substanend and in this end there long inward through the shaft a4 extends bearings and has an air-tight packing 35. This shaft is independently pulley 36 and has a comminuting blade, or preferably, as shown, a pluralityf blades 351 mountedsthereon on the inside.

38 communicating with vacu.

pines shown, provide for creating evacuation chamber.

read the degree ported plate 31 of the removal of the plate driven by an external of comminuting The |zine. pump, not the i in the A gauge 39 is provided to of vacuum'and observation windows 40 are provided. The nated generally by tial body structure sealing press desigthe numeral '41 has a :substan- 42 formed cylindrical and supone end and connected the other end. This 44 which is bolted to the end is smaller than the closure evacuation chamber so that on.

31 the end plate 44 maybe removed. This end plate 44 has an opening 45 in which is fitted an extrusion die 46. A tapered block 47 is fitted in the and has an opening 48 rthe packing space between the block idesired, the sealingpress may 51 of lighter metal. This,

cylindrical with discharge end of Vthis press at one end discharging into 1 49, there being a sleeve fitting 1 47 and the closureplate 44. If i have a central body however, is formed a hopper opening 52 at the top.

' 5 y The two shafts in this construction are prefer- Flgs. 6 and 7 `the capacity of the sealing press is 5 ably made ofthe same diameter and length. They les's than that of the extrusion press by forming have a series of blades 58 of a pug mill type and it Qf"a lesserdiameter so that the shafts may be set, with a desired pitch to feed material longi` operated at the same rate o f speed.. In this ar- ,tudinally of' the Shaft- In the tapered portion of` rangement of drive avmain pulley 77 is illustrated 1() the presses there is a combined spiral and helical as being mounted on av shaft 78, which shaft has 10 screw 59, this manifestly having e taper tO-COna pinionl 79- driving a-gear 80 on a countershaft form to the taper of the blocks in both the sealing l81. This countershaft has two pinions of the same 1 and extrusion presses. I The usual helical ribs or size, one of which is indicated at 82, and these' lands 60 are provided in each-of/the presses. The drve ygears 83 and 84 mounted on the shafts 85 blades have a working clearance on the sides of and `86, respectively, of the extrusion and the seal- 15 ^each press, 'and the screw threaded portion a'.V 'inggpresa I working clearance at the tapered part o'f the press. -f feature' of my invention from discharge outlet of the sealingl press; and the C10- 31 of the evacuation chamber and 44 of the pack- 2.0.

which is extruded through the extruding die. chamber, and the shaft of the sealing press will Withthis design I have constructed the shafts likewise be pulled outwardly through this chamand blades ofthe two presses of the same size and ber.l Where the shafts are of the same vdiameter diameter, the Dresses themselves being 0f the this allows for ready interchangeability of the same size, but I drive the/ shafts at a different rate shafts 0f the sealing and extruding press.

of speed. The shaft in the sealing press is driven In the alternative construction of Fig. 9 I illusat a lower speedl than the shaft in the extrusion trate a standard type of extrusion press desig, '30

can

eos

s ,.'a comminuting orcut- 35 extend therein, and the shaft of the'cutting or its lower bpen end resting on the hopper 91 of thcomrnl'nutingbladedoes not extend throughthis extrusionpss, 1n this case the sealing press is chamber or through the extrusion die 46; thereindicated as .having a Cylindrical body 95 with 40 fore, there are no 'Working Farts to form a space a feed hopper 97 at gne end, In this press there 10- materiel then in a nely cemmmted condi' end portion 103 forms a packing chamber, there 45 en the extrusion Dress engage these Smau Per' there is mounted a rst extrusion die 106., A reteles 0f Clay! again Werk them and eut them exmovable cover 107 is provided Afor. the packing posing. different surfaces to the lpartial vacuum. chamben y A50 At the same time the small particles are fedlon- The comminuting vessel 94 'preferably has g, gibudinally 1f-.the extrusionrressuntl they liefA cynndricai body `10a in .axialalignment with which drives e gee? 67 en tile Sheff? 53 The 00u11.- seal is formed between this vesseland the hopper 60 tershaft also has a gear A68 vwhich drives a gear 91 of the press by having gaskets 1.15 compressible seated at 70', these being 01' the usual type. or to raise the press 90slightly with the chambers. In the constructions of Figs. Y6 and 7., the set-up The evacuation chamber is provided with windows truson press 71 with a/tapered end 71, an. evacuside and a gauge 120. The comminu'ting` machine 70 atedchamber`72, and a sealing -prss 73 with anis provided with a removable cover 121. y 79,;

tapered .end portion 73'. There is a packing In this machine the standard press is drivenchamber 74 at the end of the sealing press and by its own pulley indicated at 1,22.` This', through vsecond sealing chamber 74 at the endr'of lthe ex-A the medium Lof gears 123, drives the shaft. 124 trusion press. Where it is desired to temper the with screw blades thereon. The sealing press andy 75 material in the sealing' press I usually elongate the corm'niff'mf-imr nress havetheir shafts-driven with the main drive, this utilizing a main pulley The shaft 215 preferably extends through a suit- 125 mounted on a longitudinally extending shaft able gasket220 in the4 wall lof the housing 211 12s',a this being supported in suitable bearings. and is driven by any suitable means, not shown From thisshaft there is a gear drive 128 to the in the drawings. A plurality'of idler rollers 221 5 shaft,98 of the sealing press and another gear support the endless conveyor 212 between'theroll- 5 drive 127 to the shaft 110 having the commuting ers 213 and 214. :The conveyor 212 may be made blades; these gears being -arrangedto drive the of any suitable material although it has been comminuting shaft at a higher rate of speed found that a foraminous conveyor as, for exam than the sealing press shaft. ple, one made of wire netting, has been found to In the operation of the machine of- Fig. 9 the be particularlysuitable. l0 clay or other plastic material is fed in through The clay extruded through the die 210 by the the feed hopper 97 and is immediately acted upon auger 201 is preferably cut up into very small. by the screw 101 and pressed toward the packing pieces as by means of a revolving knife 223 mountchamber 103. It meets the resistance of the end ed upon" a shaft 224 extending through thehol-l e l5 wall 104 and form's a tight seal between the end low stem 203 and through thedie 210. The shaft l5' of the shaft 102 and the end of the press. In 224 may be independently operated or driven. by this case the packingchainber 103 is unobstructthe shaft 207 through suitable miter gears 225 ed. The press has the usual ribs or lands 128, and 226. Preferably, the shaft 224 is driven at and has also the comminuting machine indicated a higher rate of speed than the auger itself so' -as at 129. The clay. is extruded through the extrudto rapidly break up the extruded clay into very 20 ing die 108 and is immediately 'subjected to the small pieces o r particles. l vacuum. The blades on the shaft 110 are illus- The small pieces of clay may b 'e directed onto trated as spaced peripherally around-the shaftthe endless conveyor 212 by means- 'of suitable and extending longitudinally thereof. These cut guide plates 208'and 209 extending from the inlet the material extruded through the die 106 and port to the conveyor 212.

feed the material toward the opening 114, rapidly The -housing 211 is preferably provided with breaking the small particles and deforming'these an outlet port in communication with another to expose different-surfaces for the evacuation of housing 230. As shown in thedrawings, the

air. The material then falls into the hopper 91 housing 230 is at right angles to the houslg 211 and is acted upon bythe extrusion press and exand the housings 230and 2111. are4 connected io- 30 truded in the ordinary manner. gether by means of a neck 231. Means for dis- In the constructions of Figs. land 2, and 6 and charging clay Periodically .from housing 230are "I, the blades of the extrusion press operate on the provided. For example, a flying conveyor 232 is comminuted clay and move such -particles'of clay positioned within the housing 230 onv 4suitable longitudinally while these are .stillsi'ibjectedt to pulleys 233 and 23'4.- Guide plates 235 and 236 3c the vacuum. This'working ofthe clay exposes are positioned near the outlet of the housing 211 different surfaces and thus enables a better evacand between' the discharge point of the conveyor. uation of the air and gases from thefparticles 212 and the flying conveyor 232 -S0 8S t0 direct of the clay. It requires 'an appreciable length Aclay from the conveyor 2 12 onto the conveyor 232.

40 of time to transfer the comminuted particles of The conveyor 232 maybe-*driven in any suitable 40 clay where they have been broken-off by the commanner, the driven roller on which the conveyor minuting blade until they come under the actionvis mounted being keyed to a shaft, such -as the of the compression screw, which screw packs, shaft 237 extending through the housing 230. the clay particles-so that the air-tight seal is- The driving means are suitably synchronized with,

' 4o` gunned al, @he end of the-extrusion press, By themovernent of the plunger 242 of the molding 45- I having the sealing chamber, even should it hapmachine, as will later appear.

that the material is not being extruded from The flying conveyor 23'2 is adapted to diethe extrusion press, a seal will yet be maintained. charge clay periodically into a clay cylinder 240 If the extrusion die were `directly at the end of provided with a head 250. said clay Cylinder 240 5 the screw of the extrusion press the vacuum being in axial alignment with a pressure fluid. or 50 might be broken by the clearing of such machine. Steam cylinder 241- The vpressure fluid cylinder The fourth embodiment of the improved appa- 2411s provided with a piston operatively connectratus. illustrated in rigs.- lo to 12 inclusive will ed to a clay piston or plunger 242 by means now-be described piston rods 243. The clay piston 242 may be l Asshowninthe drawings, the lpreylousl'yfpugged, slidablyc'arrled by a hollow stem 244 extending 55.

clay may be introduced into the vertical auger through the clay cylinder 240 into the die 245 201 through a hopper 202; The auger 201 may attached tothe bottom of the clay cylinder'. 'The include n, ntrally disposed stem 203 .around hollow stem`244may act as the core in'the die which the auger knives 204 are rotatably driven, 245 when cylindlicl ObJeGtS Such as Pipe. am 0 the knives being inclined 'so as to advance the being manufactured. -The pressure cylinder 24.1 0 clay downwardly. The auger knives 204 may be, is provided with suitable pressure fluid lines-246 'driven in anyv suitable mannen. as, for example, and 247 and control valves 248 by means of which by means of a gear .205 and a miter gear 206 theclay piston 242 may be caused to reciprocatmounted yupon a driving shaft 207. The lgwer ingly move into and out of the clay cylinder end ci' the auger 201 may be pmvided with any space between the clay cylinder 240 and pressure 05 suitable die 210 such as', for example, a die orcylinder 241. The heed 250 may beproVidedvi-b dinarily employed in making hollow tile. a window 251and is operatively connected with Theclay is advanced by the augerinto a feedthe housing 230' by a p ort 239. The clay feeder ing chamber composed of an elongated housing or flying conveyor232 iiil adapted to dtsohll'l V 211. Thehousing 11 ispreferably provided with clay into the clay cylinder-240 and head 250. 7

i an endless conveyor 212 suitably ounted on drivthrough the port 239 in timed relation to therel ingroller's 213 and 214. The 'shaft 215 on which ciprocating movementof the plunger 242, aswhen the roller"2l4'is mounted, may be supported in the piston 242, is in .raised position, as shown suitable bearings 218 and 217' carried by brackets in Fig. 11. The levers for actuating valve248 als .lud-21a lrespectively -witiiin the housing' 211.` may be suitably. interlocked'witn the means :or 75 operation of the main conveyor 212.

and 12, and described as aforesaid, the pugged the auger 201 the air carried thereby.

upon the iiylng conveyor 1,98%'869 as to obtain the' 232 and plunger j f It, is to be understood that the housings 211 and 23o and thusplaced under a vacuum. In operation of thefourth embodiment of' the impgoved apparatus illustrated in Figs. x10,v 11,

from. No-mechanical pressure moist clay particles. v

Preferably,. the apparatus is operated under a truded into theevacuating chamber into a iinely vacuum of 21 to`26 inches ofmercu'r'y. 'I'hewrate comminuted' or divided condition; at which the clay is fed into the housing 211 by that the very small pieces or particles of clay are the conveyor 212 The sdegree of iineness which is necessary, to ,obtain the desired results, varies, of course, with different kinds of clay, and for different kinds "of products; and it has-been dfound in practicalv operations ol' the improved method and apparatus,

that the pugged ceramic material which is extruded into the evacuating chamberashould be ot vacuum for a/length of time suflicient to extract or remove therefrom substantially all ofA 230 for as The length of time required to ,remove substantially all of the en trained air will depend, oi' course, upon the degree Y of vacuum carried in the apparatus, the neness bricks. tiles and Sewerpipes are made,

232. 'I'he operation oi' the .ylng conveyor 232 is synchronized with the operation of the clay piston so that every time 'an evacuated -chamber at theside of the die op- ;The clay fed to the clay cylinder is then compressed by thevdownard motion ot the clay piston extrusion chamber, an 4evacuate 3. In an apparatus for molding clay, a, sealing press having a rotatable shaft with packing blades and a feed screw thereon, an extrusion die at the end vof the shaft, an evacuated chamber at the side of the die oppositethe shaft, a sepaa comminuting the evacuated chamber from the side opposite the die and in substantial alignment with said sealing press shaftf said blade receiving ,the material extruded through the die, and a press to receive and to compress the comminuted material to form aal.` 4. In an apparatus for molding clay, a sealing press having packing blades and a an extrusion die at the end of the screw, the sealing press forming -a flr'st seal on' one side-of lthe die, an. evacuated chamber ,on the sideof r the die-opposite the press, a separate comminuting shaft extending into said chamber l side opposite the die and being' in substantial with said sealing press shaft andhav- QPe an extrusion press positioned below the ed chamber 'having a connection therewith, said extrusion press having a shaft with blades and a screw thereon, and an extrusion die connected with said extrusion press and forming therewith 5. In an apparatus for molding` clay. a press for' clay, an unobstructed packing forming a first seal at the end of the press, an, die for receiving clay from the pack. ing chamber,v and a separatecomminuting device mounted in the discharge end of said die, and means to pack comminuted materialto form a second seal.

for molding clay,

6. In an apparatus clay, an unobstructed packing chamber at the end of the press to receive the clay and form a an extrusion die on one side of said the side of the die opposite the press, ing shaftextending into disconnected from th a comminuting blade engaging and commuting clay extruded through the die, and a second press to operate onlthe comminuted material and to form a second seal. l

7. In anapparatus for molding clay, press having a thereon to pack the ingchamber at the end of said shaft, an extruf sion die in said chamberepposite the end o f the shaft, an evacuated chamber on the side of the die opposite thepacking ehambe and having a separate comminuting. shaft extending therein DUS from the side opposite in alignment with the having a comminuting and cut extruded. having a second tioned below the eomminu shaft 'of blade thereon to engage feediIiS Screw,

chamber for t an evacuated chamber adjacent ving means for engaging and packing chamber,

voperating the d having an extruding die, an

. extruding means.

8. In an apparatus for molding clay as claimed in claim '1, the sealing and extrusion presses being of substantially the same diameter, having shafts of substantially the same size, and means to drive the shaft of the extrusion press at a higher rateof speed than the shaft of the sealing press. sf

9. In an apparatus for in claim 1, the cross sectional area press being smaller than that of press and the shaft of the sealing press being of less diameter than that of the extrusion press, and means to drive the shafts of both presses at the same speed.

10. An apparatus for molding clay comprising a sealing press having a longitudinal shaft with a screw blade thereon operating in a taperedpart of the press, the shaft terminating at the end of the tapered part. an unobstructed packing chamber at the tapered end of the press and having die opposite such tapered end, an evacuated chamber on the side of the die opposite said Vchamber, a comminuting shaft extending therein from the side opposite the a comminuting blade acting on the mat truded through said die, an extrusion press having a 'shaft parallel to the shaft of the sealing press and having a tapered section at the discharge end, said second shaft having a screw thereon, a sealing chamber at the end of the tapered portion of the second pressand. having an xtrusion r and sealing chamber forming air seals, a common power drive for trusion presses and drive said shafts.

molding clay as claimed of the sealing the extrusion having an `unobstri'icted pack- 1l. In an apparatus for molding clay, a first 4 evacuated chamber and having a plug seal formplug seal forming the sealing presa, the chambers forming two air seals.

l2. In clay molding apparatus, a sealing prem having an extruding die, an evacuating chamber, f and an extrusion press, rotary means in the Y ing press for pugging ceramic material and extruding it through the die into the evacuating and rotary means in thelevacuating chamber for comminutlng the ceramic material extruded thereinto, andl independent means for commlnuting means more rapidly than is practically permissible for operating the ging or extrudlng means.

molding apparatus, a sealing press l evacuating chamber, and an extrusion press. rotary means inthe sealpugging ce and exthe die'into the evacuatingv means in the evacuating ting the ceramic mate u i3. In clay ting device in the evacuated.

rapidly than is prestiti comminuting means more the bugging or cally permissible for operating Davrs-fnnwn. 

